I was fascinated by articles discussing the Blendoor app. It was developed and founded by Stephanie Lampkin was able to get venture capital funding for it. The Blendoor app is a blind recruiting tool eliminating features used to screen candidates from “unconscious bias.” I consider this a game changer especially if it minimizes or eliminates discrimination. The only important elements in hiring are skills and experience.

Let me now what you think about the Blendoor app’s possibilities. Here’s how you can comment:

Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

Stephanie has degrees from Stanford and MIT and at one point, worked for Microsoft and Google. After seeing studies of how bias plays a major factor in hiring, she wanted to make an app eliminating bias based on race, creed, ethnicity etc. Stephanie has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Black Enterprise, and TechCrunch.

Stephanie created the Blendoor app out of seeing the need to provide more diverse job seekers

We discussed how ethnic names are negatively subject to bias

Directly combats the myth diversity hiring means “lowering the bar”

The goal is for the app to provide 100% merit based hiring

Stephanie stated although women are more likely to graduate from college and score higher on tests, bias unconsciously is a major obstacle

We discuss the features in the app and why it stands out

Need help with your career goals, directions, or efforts? Do you need coaching or instruction? I am here for it!

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If you’re a career pro and love giving career advice, let me know. Thanks for being among the thousands who listen every month. There’s so much more to come so stay tuned.Remember, I will not release a show next week because of Thanksgiving. The next show will be on November 29.

Remember, I will not release a show next week because of Thanksgiving. The next show will be on November 29.

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market.
Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search.
Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it!

She said I made her feel important, and Kris McDonald (@littletechgirl) is quite the savvy professional when it comes to tech. This episode is a job search light episode and focused more on productivity. You want to listen to this episode if you’re in-between tech usage and knowing the depth of the use of let’s say a smart phone.This is a special Christmas edition of the podcast. It is also the end of this season for the show. I will be publishing new episodes on January 12, 2016. You want to subscribe to the show as we talk about salary negotiation for women (although many of the same principles we discuss will apply to all). Don’t miss that episode.I would love to hear what you think? Here’s how you can let me know:

Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822

Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

Let me tell you a little about Kris, who is a Digital Lifestyle Expert. Her press mentions include CNN, Black Enterprise, Ebony, and Huffington Post. She partners with small to large corporation clients advising on tech.

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market.
Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search.
Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it!

I must admit that I am sometimes quite resistant by social profiles. I personally do not feel everyone, even employers, needs to know everything about me. Nor do I want to know everything about others. We all have opinionated demons that can be extreme to those that do not agree with us.

So what!

Such is life! This is what makes the world unique and interesting. We are not robots.

Some would argue that these technology avenues are good for recruiting because recruiters can use them to get to know their candidates. I totally disagree. Anyone can create an social profile that gives the viewer an image of a workplace angel…the perfect candidate…the right fit for the team.

To me, this makes social profiles unreliable. If someone uses their Twitter account to rant and rave about their passions that may not be common to the masses, does not mean that they will not be an excellent employee. Now, let us turn the table. Someone can have glowing online social profiles but their workplace ethic simply sucks.

My belief is that recruiters should not heavily rely on social profiles in recruiting decisions. It’s an unstable source as we as humans are sometimes unstable. Since I do not have the ultimate hiring power for the entire world, I, in addition to you, must consider the trends of our “social media crazed” society.

Having social profiles on the web becomes problematic when we do not consider our audience. Sure they can delete your friendship on Facebook or stop following you on Twitter but the audience is actually the ENTIRE world. Technology has taught us repeatedly that once something has been sent digitally, it is available forever and for ALL to view.

We must seriously consider all the messages that we send when we post on Facebook, Tweet, text or send e-mails. Our fascination with technology is great and has afforded us ways of connecting with others at a very cheap rate. No one ever really complains of having an outrageous long distance telephone bill these days. We can simply text, email, Tweet or Facebook our long distance friends and family.

Almost everyone desires to be an authentic being. We want to be true to ourselves. What happens when being true to ourselves is “politically incorrect”? Well, if you know this about yourself, you may want to monitor how you use technology and when you use technology. It may help to make an agreement with yourself such as never to use technology when you’re angry or intoxicated.

Another short 1-2-3 “punch to yourself in the face” is to 1) STOP, 2) consider the possibilities of how your social profiles may affect the entire world and 3) choose. You may still choose to proceed after these steps but at least you are conscious of what you are doing and aware of the possible negative impacts of your use of technology. Let us not be foolish to believe that it doesn’t matter or we won’t get caught.

He also met with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation organization after the tweet in an effort to repair the damage he caused. After last year’s Presidential election, Mr. Martin was seen less and less on CNN. April 6, 2013 was his last day with CNN. Coincident? NOT! I truly believe his tweet cost him his position with CNN. Had he punched himself in the face with my 1-2-3 suggestions above, he would probably still have his job at CNN.

Michael Nodianos

This is really sad. This young man was videotaped while expressing his very strong and probably inebriated opinions regarding the rape of a young girl. In the video, he joked about the rape and his comments were definitely politically incorrect. Mr. Nodianos was wearing an Ohio State University shirt during the video.

His irresponsible use of technology has cost him his academic scholarship and education at Ohio State University. All that we do online socially is a part of our electronic profile regardless of whether that was the initial intention.

Mr. Cebull wrote a letter of apology to the President in addition to filing a complaint against himself. We must remember that what we distribute digitally to a few individuals potentially is seen by the masses.

The delicate dance of authenticity and political correctness is an absolute requirement regardless of your position in life. Technology connects us all and does it very quickly. If you Google your name, what do you see? More importantly is what do you want your potential employer to see? Being intentional with our use of technology is not an option. Our social profiles have capabilities to extend worldwide. Now that’s a large audience. Do you want applause or do you want to be “booed?”

How important is a social profile to you? Tell us what you think in the comments section.

Bianca Michelle Thompson, Chicago native, has worked in the corporate arena within the Chicago Loop for over twenty-five years. The last thirteen years have been within the Human Resources profession. Her experiences within the Human Resources field and her personal life inspired her passion for training and coaching. Bianca has done extensive self-development, team-building and coaching coursework within the corporate and non-profit arenas and with Phoenix Arises Seminars.